Congressman Who Referred To Obama As “Tar Baby” Won’t Attend State Of The Union

Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado, who apologized last year for referring to President Obama as “tar baby” is skipping the State of the Union Address in protest.

Lamborn’s staff said Monday he’s protesting Obama’s recent actions, including the appointments of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and three new members of the National Labor Relations Board, which Republicans consider an overreach of executive power. He’s also objecting to Obama’s decision on the Keystone XL pipeline and cuts to defense spending, his office said.

Lamborn is not a big Obama fan.

“I don’t even want to have to be associated with him,” Lamborn had said, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. “It’s like touching a tar baby, and you get it — you know, you’re stuck, and you’re part of the problem now, and you can’t get away.”

Lamborn subsequently wrote an apology to Obama, saying he was sorry for using a term “some find insensitive” and that he meant no offense by using the phrase.